How can a Chiropractor help pregnant women?
Pregnancy can be difficult on your body. It's also a time when you need your body to be in peak performance. The stresses of pregnancy can take a toll on your body and cause pain and discomfort. Prenatal care is an important step in ensuring the health of mother and child. Pregnant women often experience back pain, headaches, knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other physical discomforts during pregnancy as their bodies are being stretched to accommodate the growing baby. These conditions may require special attention from a trusted healthcare provider like a Chiropractor. Plus we help with so much more than just neck or back pain! A chiropractor has many tools that they can use to offer relief for pregnant patients who are experiencing discomfort as a result of their growing baby bump. Learn more about what a chiropractor can do to help with pregnancy and prenatal care in this article...
What Should You Look For In A Prenatal Care Provider?
When considering prenatal care providers, keep in mind that the best care will include all aspects of prenatal care, including regular visits to a chiropractor. During these visits, a chiropractor can perform an assessment of your spine, joints and soft tissue, and recommend treatment options, like spinal adjustments, and prenatal massages. They can also monitor your progress and determine if further testing is needed, like a follow up with your provider or an ultrasound. Prenatal care should also include a discussion about diet, nutrition, exercise and vitamins. A good prenatal care provider will also talk to you about ways to minimize the risk of certain pregnancy complications. They can also help you prepare for labor and delivery and offer advice for taking care of your newborn.
How A Chiropractor Can Help With Pregnancy Discomfort?
During pregnancy, a chiropractor can ease discomfort by adjusting the spine and extremities to help with pain and reduce the need for interventions during labor and create an easier pregnancy. They can also provide advice on exercises and stretches to promote good posture, help baby get in the proper position and help to alleviate discomfort. Chiropractic care during pregnancy can help with many pregnancy-related issues, including back and joint pain, leg cramps, headaches, sleeping disorders and carpal tunnel syndrome. It can also help with digestive disorders and heartburn, as well as leg swelling. Not everyone can benefit from chiropractic adjustments; however, chiropractic care is considered safe for most pregnant women.
Back Pain During Pregnancy
Back pain is one of the most common ailments during pregnancy. Approximately 80 percent of women will experience back pain during their pregnancy. This can be caused by an increase in blood flow and an increase in progesterone (which relaxes the muscles), as well as an increase in weight from the growing fetus. During pregnancy, your centre of gravity is shifting and you're likely to put more pressure on your back as you put your hands on your hips when you're expecting. Extra weight, including that of the growing baby, puts pressure on your back muscles and spinal joints. In an effort to ease the increased stress, you may be more likely to slouch or recline putting improper pressure on your pelvis. Chiropractic care can help to ease pain during pregnancy by realigning the pelvis and supporting the joints.
Knee Pain During Pregnancy
Knee pain is another common problem during pregnancy. Again, this is often caused by the increase in progesterone, combined with the added weight from the bump. The best way to treat knee pain during pregnancy is to modify your activities and exercise regimen. Chiropractic care is also helpful for knee pain during pregnancy. Spinal adjustments can help to ensure that the joints and muscles in the knees are moving correctly, which may help to ease the pain. If you have knee pain that is not improving with chiropractic care or other self-care measures, be sure to see your doctor. There might be other issues causing the pain, such as a twisting of the knee joint, or there could be an issue with the fetus.
Pelvic or Pubic Pain During Pregnancy
Pelvic pain is one of the most common issues we see in our pregnant mommas. Although sometimes the discomfort is due to hormonal changes, the vast majority of them are more due to biomechanics and pressure on how the pelvis changes during pregnancy. There are two main joints (sacroiliac joint in the back, and pubic symphysis in the front) in the pelvis that often get subluxated (stuck) during pregnancy. For the pelvis to work well all these joints need to have the correct amount of movement in them. The trouble during pregnancy is that due to the extra pressure placed on the pelvis these joints often cause discomfort if not moving correctly.
Final Words
When you're pregnant, it is important that you get the right amount of sleep, take care of your diet and exercise, and see your doctor regularly. It is also important to find a chiropractor that you trust and feels like family. They can help you to stay comfortable, reduce aches and pains, and get the rest that you need during the nine months. Pregnancy can be challenging, especially when you add in the extra stress on your body from the extra weight. Chiropractic care can help to ease discomfort and allow you to enjoy these special months.
ABOUT THRIVE CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC
We are a prenatal and pediatric chiropractic clinic located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. We’ve been serving Tulsa moms, children and their families since 2015. The practice has grown over the years into a well-trained and experienced team that meets the unique needs of women, babies and young children. Read more about our chiropractic clinic, click here.
